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Teacher quality policy and practice unite
Too often in education reform, books are quickly pushed into one of two camps: policy or practice.
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The new normal: borrow, borrow, borrow
Two months ago, when submitting its budget proposal to Congress, the Obama Administration crowed about its fiscal discipline and its commitment to flat-lining domestic spending (sort of). While education would receive an increase, it would be measured and responsible. Well that approach didn’t last long.
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Contentious objectors, in the science classroom
Are you against violence toward animals? Well you have an advocate in Hartford, Connecticut, where that state’s legislature is contemplating a bill that would allow students to complete science-class animal dissections virtually. Should students be forced to cut open that lifeless piglet or innocent frog to learn about their anatomy? The battle lines are drawn.
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Don't underestimate the elderly
The new United Federation of Teachers’ president Michael Mulgrew was voted into office with 91 percent of the vote.
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Why teacher accountability is the next front in the school reform wars
Be forewarned: It’s going to take me a while to get to my main argument. I hope you agree it’s worth the wait.
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Teacher reform in CO
Yesterday, Colorado State Senator Mike Johnston unveiled his much-anticipated teacher reform legislation.
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Today's interesting news
Kansas out of RTT, ?sends a signal to Washington that we don't want to play their game.? Duncan wants more money to bail out cash-strapped districts
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Teacher reform in CO
Yesterday, Colorado State Senator Mike Johnston unveiled his much-anticipated teacher reform legislation.
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New York blinks
This is a little wonky, but bear with me. The great part about section D2 of the Race to the Top application is that it gets progressively more reform-oriented as you move through it. Each subsection asks a bit more of the state than the previous one.
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No short cuts
Mike's post from this afternoon makes an excellent point: because teachers are the main drivers of student achievement, teacher quality reforms (like eliminating tenure and linking teacher evaluation to student achievement results) are central to improving education.
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No short cuts
Mike's post from this afternoon makes an excellent point: because teachers are the main drivers of student achievement, teacher quality reforms (like eliminating tenure and linking teacher evaluation to student achievement results) are central to improving education.
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Today's interesting news
Kansas out of RTT, "sends a signal to Washington that we don't want to play their game." Duncan wants more money to bail out cash-strapped districts
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The race is on and teachers are front and center
Ohio and the other states competing for Race to the Top dollars have until June 1 to submit second-round applications. The Buckeye State has little time (exactly a month) to chart a new direction and improve its proposal before districts and charter schools must agree to it. We all want Ohio to win, but win because we are a state committed to significant reform and educational improvement.
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Tenure reform, not choice, is the Holy Grail
Many of us who support school choice do so because of our hope that competition will force recalcitrant districts and unions to reform. The theory of action goes something like this: Offer poor parents and their kids real options outside the (unionized) public schools. Attach public dollars to the kids so that the money leaves the system.
Commentary
Tenure reform, not choice, is the Holy Grail
Many of us who support school choice do so because of our hope that competition will force recalcitrant districts and unions to reform. The theory of action goes something like this: Offer poor parents and their kids real options outside the (unionized) public schools. Attach public dollars to the kids so that the money leaves the system.
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Maryland's draft RTT application
Maryland released its draft RTT application today, giving the world its first peek into the state's plans (it didn't apply in round one).
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Maryland's draft RTT application
Maryland released its draft RTT application today, giving the world its first peek into the state's plans (it didn't apply in round one).
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Education news nuggets
Things are heating up in Florida, with game-changing and protest sickouts on the merit pay bill, and now Florida's
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Education news nuggets
Things are heating up in Florida, with game-changing and protest sickouts on the merit pay bill, and now Florida's
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Quotable and notable
???Experience matters, but it cannot be the sole or even principal factor considered in layoff decisions.?? We must be able to take into account each individual's track record of success.??? ???Joel Klein, Chancellor of New York City Schools
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Quotable and notable
?Experience matters, but it cannot be the sole or even principal factor considered in layoff decisions.? We must be able to take into account each individual's track record of success.? ?Joel Klein, Chancellor of New York City Schools
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Interview with RI's Gist
Very good interview with RI's state chief Deborah Gist (in the very good journal CommonWealth). ?Andy Smarick
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Must-read from Indiana
This stakeholder support issue gets more interesting by the day (see previous posts on CA, OH,
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Must-read from Indiana
This stakeholder support issue gets more interesting by the day (see previous posts on CA, OH, CT
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Interview with RI's Gist
Very good interview with RI's state chief Deborah Gist (in the very good journal CommonWealth). --Andy Smarick
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Chinese influence in U.S. schools
How do you feel about the government of China paying for American public schools to teach our kids Mandarin? And sending teachers from China to the U.S.
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What jury duty taught me about compromises, including those in education
I've been on jury duty for the last week. It was a federal criminal trial???and judging from the number of individuals involved, it cost the taxpayers a heavy chunk of change. A couple hours ago, we rendered our verdict and now I'm free to talk about it. In a nutshell, it was one of the most frustrating experiences of my life.
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Let's hear it for Education Equality
I've long shared the core principles of the Education Equality Project, above all the conviction that great schools and teachers??can and should be expected to do a lot to equalize educational opportunity and results in the United States--this in contrast to the defeatist??"Broader Bolder" a